Rob Melhem's Fairhaven, Kirribilli mansion finally sells
Initially listed in 2010 with $10 million plus hopes, the Kirribilli mansion called Fairhaven has been finally sold at an undisclosed price. There were $7.5 million plus hopes in early 2013. It was last sold at $6.05 million by the Donnelly family in 2004.
The five-bedroom house on an 1,400 square metre estate was sold by telecommunications entrepreneur turned property developer Rob Melhem who commissioned renovations by SJB Architects.
Downstairs is The Club Room, a timber panelled rumpus room with a huge open fireplace, a full sized billiards table, games area, built-in bar and climate controlled cellar for up to 800 bottles.
The 1905 Edwardian/Federation property comes with a heated pool, tennis court and parking for six cars. It sold last month pre-auction through LJ Hooker agents Richard Harding and Geoff Smith with its price undisclosed.
Some time over the past four years Rob Melhem, said: ''We won't budge from this price. This is rock bottom.''
Title Tattle gathers the buyer is Caroline Grundy, the wife of David Grundy from Killara. They recently sold the family's 2,953 square metre Buckingham Road battle-axe abode for $5.7 million to Citie Centre Nominees, who also spent $2.3 million on the neighbouring site presumably for another upper north shore multi-unit residential development.
Fairhaven has Kirribilli's only privately owned, full-size tennis court. Even Kirribilli House does not have a tennis court as our prime ministers play their tennis at The Lodge.
Fairhaven, which borders Loreto Convent on Carabella Street, is viewed as among the best examples of the early work of the 19th-century architect James Peddle.
The owner from 1905-1913 was Commercial Banking Co banker Hugh Massie, the cricketer.
Michael Terrett bought the property in 1990 for $1,625,000 from a developer who originally wanted to turn the house into flats. The Terrett family sold in 1993 for $2.03 million.
Rob Melhem, a former sponsor of the Manly Sea Eagles, and his wife Fiona moved to Kirribilli after listing their modern Mosman residence.
It sold for $3.2 million in 2007 though Title Tattle recalls their redundant Raglan Street house had $4 million-plus expectations when first listed in mid-2004.
Title Tattle gathers the Melhem's are now Hope Island, Gold Coast based.
